The Events Of 2020 Will Affect Concealed Carry This Year
You might have to get used to some changes this year when it comes to concealed carry. No one is sorry to see the end of the disaster that was the year 2020. But flipping to a new calendar doesn’t make last year’s problems instantly go away. When it comes to everyday carry, you might have to make some adjustments, if you haven’t done so already, especially when it comes to self-defense training and gear.
Concealed Carry And The End Of The World
Look at what we were up against. Politicians allowed rioting, lawlessness and destruction of property in our cities. The mainstream media beat the propaganda drum to hammer home the lie that there was pervasive racism in our police departments. Departments have had their budgets cut in many places. The spread of the China virus led to closed businesses, job losses, high stress and people walking around liked masked zombies. To some, it must have seemed like the beginning of the end of the world.
One result is that more people recognized that they are responsible for their own security. We are our own first line of defense. We always have been, but now more people know it. Gun sales have broken all records. Some estimates are that about 7.5 million people became gun owners for the first time. Add to that the number of previous gun owners who added to their personal armories and you can see why both guns and ammo have been in short supply. Demand has led to a rise in prices for whatever is still available.
Adjust Your Concealed Carry Habits
So, how does all that affect your concealed carry routine? For one, you might change your training procedures. For much of last year, the shooting range I usually frequent was closed due to the pandemic. Fortunately, I was able to find another range in the area where I could continue my live-fire drills. That might not be an option for some. Now, however, I’m starting to be much more judicious in what ammo and how much of it I am willing to fire. While others were caught woefully unprepared, I started the past year in good shape with the ammo I had on hand. Now, after taking a rough inventory, I realize my own ammo supply is limited, especially when it comes to certain defensive cartridges.
So now, I’m apt to do more dry-fire practice these days, incorporating training aids such as MantisX or laser targets. I might have to change the handgun I carry regularly too.
Normally, after effectiveness and reliability, I choose a handgun based on how well I can shoot it. But these aren’t normal times. So, I might change my carry gun from a 9mm to a .45 ACP to a .357 to a 10mm as needed when I factor in how much ammo I have and how much I can source and still have some to fire to maintain my proficiency.
Concealed Carry Is Not All About Guns
During these dark times, it’s important to realize that personal security involves much more than owning a gun. I’ve carried a handgun regularly for years, before, during and after my years as a police officer. I know of others who are carrying now even though they rarely did so in the past.
But beyond being able to hit a target, you must develop good situational awareness habits, and learn to spot trouble in order to avoid it before it’s too late whenever possible.
And because many conflicts don’t begin at a level where deadly force is justified, you have to have other strategies too. Those strategies might include investing in some unarmed martial arts training. Acquiring and carrying other devices, such as pepper spray, small impact weapons and stun guns might be a good idea too.
Preparing Isn’t Necessarily Hoarding
With a change in political administrations, there’s a real threat of tremendous restrictions on our constitutional rights in the year ahead. So, while the getting is good, you might want to prepare by buying the things you can still get now. We might find, for instance, that we can no longer have gun parts shipped directly to our homes.
So, while I’m continually checking the websites for any ammo that might become available, I’m also ordering extra magazines for guns that I might have to press into service.
Such things as spare recoil springs might be a wise investment too. You don’t have to stockpile to the point of being a hoarder, but you don’t want to be caught empty-handed either.
Steven Paul Barlow is a retired sergeant/station commander and former firearms instructor with the New York State Police. He is an avid hunter, fisherman, and enthusiast with all things related to firearms, knives, and survival. He has been writing on outdoor topics for more than 35 years. His collections of outdoor humor stories are available at BriarHill Books.